Sausage casing manufacture



Sept 20, 1960 J. D. CON-r1 2,953,072

SAUSAGE CASING MANUFACTURE Filed Sept. 3, 1957 J3 fo 42 /9 g PE2 nited States Patent f SAUSAGE CASING` MANUFACTURE John D. Conti, Fredericksburg, Va., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 3, 1957, Ser. No. 681,756

18 Claims. (Cl. 93-82) This invention relates in general to method and apparatus for making stuffed products, and more particularly to stuffed product manufacture wherein a stuing nozzle :and adhesive applicator together cooperate to deposit a measured amount of adhesive along a contained path on a continuously traveling sheet material.

In accordance `with known procedures for making casings, a continuous traveling sheet material is passed through a former or shaping mechanism which serves to fold or dellect the same into a tubular formation in which ythe opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet material are disposed in overlapping relationship. An adhesive is employed to bond the overlapping edges of the sheet material and is generally applied before the sheet material is shaped into a tubular formation. With this procedure, however, there exists a tendency for the sheet material to weave from its desired path, especially when travelling through the former mechanism. Under these conditions, the applied adhesive often becomes smeared or smudged before the sheet material edges are actually overlapped, thus leading to an unsatisfactory seal more important, smearing the adhesive tends to spread the same along the internal wall of the casing where it may contact and perhaps contaminate the stuffed product, as for example a foodstuff. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved and more satisfactory method and apparatus for use in the continuous production of stuffed products.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for depositing measured amounts of adhesive along controlled and contained paths.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for crimping or scoring a continuously travelling sheet material concomitantly with the folding thereof into a casing or tubular formation, with provision being made for depositing a liquid adhesive within the scored portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stuing apparatus having a nozzle, grooved on its exterior periphery, and lcooperating with a scoring tool and an adhesive applicator to effect a continuous crimping of a travelling sheet maerial and a concomitant moistening the same with a liquid adhesive,

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be lapparent from rthe following description and accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of a portion of a stutling machine nozzle illustrating a sheet material folder mechanism, scoring tool, and adhesive applicator in use;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken through the apparatus shown in IFig. l, with the sheet material removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the apparatus of the present invention in use; and

lFig. 4 is a fragmentary detail View of the sheet material scoring tool and the adhesive applicator.

In general, the novel apparatus of this invention includes 2,953,072 Patented' Sept. 2i), 1960 a stuffing nozzle having a longitudinally extending groove on its exterior periphery, a scoring tool disposed adjacent the nozzle groove and serving to depress therein portions of a continuously travelling sheet material, and an adhesive applicator for continuously depositing a measured amount. of adhesive within said scored portion concomitantly as the sheet material itself is folded or deected into a casing or tubingV formation about the stuing nozzle. Preferably, the groove in the stuffing nozzle gradually reduces in width and depth as its exit end is approached so as to cause the adhesively moistened portion of the sheet material to be progressively elevated or flattened as the sheet material leaves the former mechanism. In this manner, an unbroken layer of adhesive exists between the sheet material edges as they are urged and held in overlapping relationship to insure the formation of a highly satisfactory and uniform bond.

While only that portion of the stuing machine germano to the present invention has been illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood that the method and apparatus described herein is suited for use with known stuffing machines. Incorporating the teachings of the present invention into known stuing machines in no way impair their intended stuffing functions, and in addition provide full assurance that the overlapping edges of the sheet material will be uniformly and satisfactorily bonded to each other.

With reference to the drawing, there is illustrated a stuffing nozzle or core member 15, a former or folding mechanism 17, a scoring or crimping tool 19, an adhesive applicator 21, and a sealing shoe 23. Briefly, the folding mechanism consists of a main body portion 24; having downwardly projecting end iiauges 25 and 27 formed with arcuate surfaces disposed adjacent rto but spaced from the stuffing nozzle itself. Intermediate the end flanges 25 and 27 and on the same side as the ange 27, the folding device 17 is provided with a projection 29, also having an arcuate surface which corresponds with the similar surfaces formed on the end flanges 25 and 27. It will be noted fthe entrance end of the folding device is beveled at 31 to facilitate ease in lacing the sheet material, shown at 33, at the start of the stuffing operation and to prevent any scratching or tearing of the same as it moves relative thereto.

As seen in the Fig. l, the stuing nozzle 15 extends through the folder mechanism 17 with suticient clearance between these parts to allow the free passage of the sheet material therebetween. Upon entry of the sheet material 33 into the folding device, the end flange 25 gradually urges one longitudinal edge of the sheet material downwardly and inwardly into embracing relationship about the stuffing nozzle 15. In this position, the deflected edge portion of the sheet material rides between the stufiing nozzle 15 and a support arm 35. As more fully described hereafter, the sheet material is concomitantly scored and moistened with a narrow strip of liquid adhesive, as shown at 37, during this phase of the casing formation. With continued travel through the folding device 17, the opposite longitudinal edge of the sheet material 33 is initially deflected toward the stufling nozzle 15 as it rides over the arcuate surface of the projection 29, and is finally disposed into overlapping relationship with the first mentioned longitudinal edge of the sheet material by the end iiange 27.k

The edge portions of the sheet material are ultimately Y 'i i 2,953,072

and the projection 29 of the folding mechanism 17 per- I form their intended manipulative operations without contacting the applied adhesive.

With particular reference to the stuffing nozzle 15,

there is provided on itsgexterior surface a Agroove 39V Whichrext'ends longitudinally thereof beyond the end of the folding device 17. For purposes as more fully described hereafter, the groove 39 tapers in both its width or pointed discharge end, as shown at 41.

adjacent the free end of the support arm 35. The crimping tool 19 serves to deilect the traveling sheet material into the nozzle groove 39 and thus scores or crimps the same along one of its longitudinal edges.

As best seen in Fig. 4, the scoring or crimping tool 19 is formed with a smooth rounded leading surface'so as to gradually depress the traveling sheet material into the stuing nozzle groove 39 without risk of scratching or tearing the same. Preferably, this scoring tool consists of a Wire `or other flexible member which can be deformed into ra desired configuration and which Will readily ex away from the nozzle when the sheet material is subjected yto an undesirable increase in tension. i In this manner, any excessive pull on the sheet material merely renders the scoring tool temporarily inoperative and thus prevents damage to either the sheet material or the scoringdevice. It Will be understood that the scoring tool 19 automatically returns to its operative position once the sheet material is under normal tension. Along the same lines, it will be noted that the adhesive applicator nipple 45 has the form of an inverted truncated cone which allows this nipple to ride within the trough-shaped crimp .in the sheet material without impairing the sheet material travel or damaging the same.

Delivery of adhesive material to the nipple 45 is accomplished by a conduit 47 formed in the support arm 35 and connected at one end to a stem 49. The stem 49 is in turn connected to a suitable source of adhesive, not shown. Both the support arm 35 and the stem'49 are integrally connected -to an enlarged section 50 of a rocker shaft 51. VA bracket 53, fixed to the framework of the stuffing machine itself, not shown, supports the rocker shaft 51 for a pivotal'movement. During operation, however, the arm 35 is urged toward the stuffing nozzle 15 by a tension spring 55 which encircles the shaft 51 and has its ends connected to the shaft section 50 and the bracket 53, respectively. While the support arm 35 is normally held-snugly against the sheet material traveling between its free end and the stung nozzle 15, it willY be evident that during lacing procedures and actual operation of the apparatus, the spring 55 permits the support arm 35 to automatically adjust its position to the particular tension applied to the traveling sheet material.

As ythe sheet material moves through and away from stuing nozzle itself yand is preferably formed of a tetrauoroethylene polymer, known as Teiion, which permits -the casing seam to be subjected to pressure without introducing excessive frictional drag. A pair of support arms 61, connected to the pressure shoe 23 at 63, pivotally urge the shoe toward the stutiing nozzle 15, with a spring, not shown, being provided to allow the shoe to adjust its position to the pull on the sheet material, in much the same manner as the support arm 35 heretoforerdescribed. vIt will be noted that the arcuate sur#vv face of the pressure shoe 23 presents a .relatively wide contact area, denoted by the broken lines 65, and thus insures -that the overlapping edges of the sheet materials are pressed iirmly together notwithstanding any tendency for the casing to weave from a straight line path. Upon leaving the pressure shoe, the sheet material is in the form of a continuous tube or casing, which may be then humidified and filled with plastic stufng material.

It will be apparent from the above description, that the present invention permits the traveling sheet material to be concomitantly folded into la tubular or casing shape While one of its longitudinal edge portions is crimped and mois-tened with a liquid adhesive. The specific construci (tion of 4the stutiing nozzle and the cooperating scoring the folding device 17, the tapered construction of the stuffing nozzle groove 39 gradually and progressively elevates or attens the crimped portion of the sheet material to the arcuate surface portion of the stuing nozzle. Therefore, as the 'ange 27 of the folding device 17 completes the folding of the sheet material about the stuffing nozzle 15, the edge portions of the sheet material are disposed in overlapped relationship with a thin uni-V form layer of adhesive interposed therebetween. While in this position, both longitudinal edges of the sheet material travel together as a unit toward the sealing shoe 23, which servesV to maintain the overlapped edge portions of the sheet material pressed against each other and the periphery of the stuing nozzle 15.

'I'he sealing or pressure shoer23 is provided with an upper arcuate face which mates with the pephefy 0f the -tool and adhesive applicator facilitate the uniform deposition of adhesive along desired contained path which is so disposed as to shield :the 'adhesive from being smeared or smudged by the opposite longitudinal edge of the sheet material as it -is folded into its final position. In

Vthis manner, full assurance is provided that the finished casing seam is uniformly sealed along its entire length by the same metered amountof adhesive as is initially applied to the sheet material. As with known stuffing promerely illustrated and that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims:

1. In apparatus for producing continuous tubular casing including -a nozzle, means for folding a travelling sheet material about said nozzle with the longitudinal edge `portions of the sheet material disposed in overlapping relationship, means yfor providing only one of the edge portions of the sheet material with a continuous crimp Which extends generally parallel tto a longitudinal edge of the sheet material, and means for applying a measured amount of :adhesive into the continuous crimp of the sheet f material before the sheet material edge portions are disposed in overlapped relationship.

2. In apparatus for producing continuous stuffed products` including a stuling nozzle, means for folding a travelling sheet material about said stuiing nozzle with the longitudinal edge portions of the sheet material disposed in overlapping relationship, and lmeans for .providing only one of the edge portions of the travelling sheet material with a continuous crimp which extends substantially parallel -to Ia longitudinal edge of the sheet material, and -concomitantly depositing a liquid adhesive into the continuous crimp before the sheet material edge portions are disposed in overlapped relationship.

3. In apparatus for producing continuous stuffed products including a stuffing nozzle, means for folding a travelling sheet material about said stuffing nozzle with sheet material into said groove to score the same and concomitantly deposit a liquid adhesive along said scored portion before the sheet material edges are disposed in overlapped relationship.

4. Apparatus as deiined in claim 3 wherein said groove terminates beyond .the discharge end of said rst mentioned means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said groove gradually reduces in width as its discharge end is approached.

6. Apparatus as deiined in claim 3 wherein said groove gradually reduces in depth as its discharge end is appreached.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said groove gradually reduces in both width and depth as its discharge end is approached.

8. In apparatus for producing continuous stuted products including a stuing nozzle, means for folding a travelling sheet material about said stufiing nozzle with the longitudinal edges of the sheet material disposed in overlapping relationship, a groove formed in the exterior surface of said nozzle and extending longitudinally thereof, said groove being located adjacent to said folding means, means -for depressing an edge portion of the travelling sheet material into said groove to crimp the same, and means disposed in trailing relationship with said sheet material depressing means for applying a liquid adhesive to the crimped portion of the sheet material, said sheet material depressing means and adhesive applicator means located adjacent to the entrance end of said folding means to elect sheet material crimping and adhesive application before the sheet material longitudinal edges are disposed in overlapped relationship.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said groove gradually reduces in both width Iancl depth as its discharge end is approached to cause the Iadhesively moistened crimped portion of the sheet material to be flattened as the -sheet material edge portions are overlapped.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 further including a sealing shoe partially embracing said stuiing nozzle for maintaining the overlapped longitudinal edge portions of the sheet material pressed against each other and the periphery of the stuilng nozzle.

l1. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said sheet material depressing means and adhesive applicator means are carried at the free end of a support arm, and further including resilient means for urging said support arm toward the stuiiing nozzle.

12. Apparatus as dei-ined in claim 8 wherein said adhesive applicator means includes a nipple projecting into said stuing nozzle groove.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said sheet material depressing means is lformed of exible material.

14. Apparatus as dened in claim 13 further including a support arm and wherein said sheet material depressing means is a wire connected at one end to said support arm and formed with a reverse bend Ito provide a smooth rounded leading edge.

15. In a method for producing stuffed products including the steps of deecting successive portions of a longitudinal edge of a continuous travelling sheet material along an arcuate path, scoring said sheet material continuously along a path extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal edge, applying an adhesive to said scored portion of said sheet material, deecting the opposite longitudinal edge portion of the sheet material into overlapping relationship with the first-mentioned longitudinal edge portion, and pressing said overlapping edge portions against each other to provide a continuous nished casing.

16. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said scored portion of the sheet material is attened as the opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet material are disposed in overlapped relationship.

17. Apparatus for producing a tubular product including an elongated core member, means for folding a traveling sheet material about said core member with the longitudinal edge portions of the sheet material disposed in overlapping relationship, means for providing one edge portion of the sheet material with a continuous crimp which extends generally parallel to an adjacent longitudinal edge ofthe sheet material, and applying an adhesive into the continuous crimped portion ythereof before the sheet material edge portions are disposed in overlapping relationship and means cooperating with said core members for pressing the overlapped edge portions of the sheet material together.

18. A method of making a tubular product including the steps of deecting one longitudinal edge portion of a sheet material along an yarcuate path, scoring the sheet material to provide a continuous crimp therein extending along a path adjacent to said longitudinal edge, applying an adhesive to the continuous crimped portion of the sheet material, deecting the opposite edge portion of the sheet material into overlapping relationship with the vfirst-mentioned longitudinal edge portion and pressing said overlapping edge portions against each other to seal the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

